The following
highlights of the Teleconference are for the members who could not attend, so
you will know what was discussed and voted on. Please share with
interested SMW members.

Shirley Keegan,
National Secretary, is preparing the official Minutes of the Teleconference,
and will send them out soon to everyone by e-mail.

It was a great
Teleconference with lots of participation. So encouraging !!

All members of the
Board of Directors were invited (according to our ByLaws): "The
National Board of Directors shall consist of the elected and the appointed
officers, the immediate Past President, Regional Vice-Presidents, Chapter
Presidents and Chairmen of the Standing and Special Committees, SMW National
past Presidents, other than the immediate Past President, shall be Honorary
Board Members with voice participation, but no vote."

The Regional Vice
Presidents gave their reports, most sent them earlier by e-mail.

Rosalie Horton,
Legislative Chair, sent her report, but mentioned that on Friday she
spent the day on Capitol Hill, visiting with Senator Nelson's staff and
Congressman Wilson's staff, both of whom will be introducing the new SBP-DIC
offset elimination bills in the new 115th Congress very soon.

Pat Shecter,
Webmaster, reported that she and Helmi Mays (from Germany) are updating the SMW
website.

Cathy McGraw, ByLaws
Chair, asked that we send our suggestions to her. She is reviewing and
updating the handbook, and plans a Teleconference to discuss ByLaws changes
along with handbook changes. Changes must be sent by the end of June, as
they must be sent to all members 90 days prior to the SMW Convention.

Carol Widmer,
Membership Chair, said that she and Janet had received copies of the
membership lists. Carol has asked Chapter Presidents to send both her and
Janet their chapter membership lists.

Patricia Walker gave a
2016 Convention Report with results from the completed surveys by
attendees. Most were pleased with the San Antonio venue, meals and tours.

Janet will make
necessary corrections to the Registration Form for the 2017 (and resent it to
all National Board of Directors today).

Members voted to have
the 2018 convention in Fort Worth, TX (Jo Henry); and Janet was asked to thank
Maria Sutherland in Alaska for her proposal and time doing it (which was done
yesterday afternoon).

Members voted to have
the 2019 convention in Colorado Springs, CO (Margaret Melchi).

Patricia Walker gave
her Transition Report from NAUS to SMW and reviewed the top contenders to do
our SMW business: TREA, AMRA, and AMS. Patricia recommended AMS as
the most qualified and able to do everything we needed. Cost will be
approximately $1,800. per month, depending on the work that is performed.
After questions and discussions, members voted unanimously to go with
AMS. Patricia will contact John May at AMS on Monday to get a
business contract set up.

One of the big
questions was, "Can we afford AMS ?" The answer was 'yes', but
recommendation was to raise dues to $25. per year. It was unanimously
approved, after much discussion.

Important to
note: SMW will honor all Life Memberships and the Memberships that were
paid to NAUS for SMW. Do not worry about paying any new dues, until you
receive notice that your dues must be paid. If you have questions,
contact either Carol Widmer (316-721-1905carol.widmer@yahoo.com)
or Janet Snyder (702-227-6566groundhog71@gmail.com).
Both of them have the master list from NAUS that has expiration dates of all
members' dues.

Under Unfinished
Business, both Chapter #2 and Chapter #9 have disbanded. There doesn't
appear to be any chance of revival. Cathy McGraw will pick up the box of
Chapter #9's material at the Las Vegas Convention.

Under New Business,
Janet reminded everyone that if they have news to put into either the print or
electronic newsletters that would be sent periodically by AMS, they should send
the information by e-mail to Janet at groundhog71@gmail.com,
and she will send the information to AMS.

Janet plans to have a
Training Conference Call in the near future, to study SMW ByLaws and other
governing documents.

This was an outstanding
Teleconference with lots of enthusiasm and participation. It started at 11:02
a.m. Pacific Time and ended at 1:10 p.m.

Su Phelps, National
Chaplain, gave inspiring Invocation and Benediction prayers.

There were many thanks
all around to all attending members of the SMW Board of Directors.